US1225120A - Feeler-motion for looms. - Google Patents

Description

T. FERGUSON.

FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION m0 JAN. 22. 1916.

1,225, 120. Patented May 8, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NI/ENTER ifmw M T FERGUSON,

FEELER MOTlON FOR LOOMSL APPLICATION mED-1Au.22.19:e.'

1,225,120. Patented May 8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STAT

THOMAS FERGUSON, OF LbWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IVIENTS, TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSAGHUSETTE, A CORPORA- TION F MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

menace.

Improvement in Feele1-\lotio11s for Looms,

of which the tollowing description, in conneetion with the accompanying drawings, is

a specification, like characters on the drawings i'e iiresenting like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to t'celer motions tor looms through the agency of which the loom may be stopped or the filling replenished when that insthc' shuttle has become substantially though not fully exhausted.

Various forms of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been proposed, some of which depend for their effective action upon measurement of the thickness of the filling on the carrier or bobbin in the shuttle, others upon movement of the fecler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling has reached a cond1t1on of substantial exhaustian. Feeler mechanisms to be practically efficient, must be very sensitive because on the one hand, when the substantial exhaustion of the filling is reached and only s a Jientreinains in the shuttle to make one, two, or more picks, as the case may be, the feeler must be sulliciently sensitive to his condition to set in operation a train of mechanism to effect either replenishment of the filling or loom stoppage, and on the other hand, must effectively prevent the operation of such train of mechanism when sulticien t filling remains in the shuttle tor weaving purposes.

An' important feature of the present invention therefore, consists in a teeler motion wherein the teeler shall be sensitive to the cmdition of substantial exhaustion of the filling and thereupon set in operation a train of mechanism to change the condition of the loom. as by causing replenishment. oi-

the filling or looni stoppage, and at the same time will he equally-scnsitive to the presence of a working supply of filling in the shuttle to prevent operation of such train 01 mechanism so .long as such working supply is present. 1

This feature of the invention is carried A into practical etlect by providing the teeler motion with a rotatable fecler having a portion adapted to engage the filling 111 the Application filed January 22, i9l6. Serial No. 73,716.

Patented May 8, 1917.

shuttle as the lay makes its detecting beat,

and to be moved frontward by such beatup movement of the lay, the engaging portion of the feeler being such that when a Working supply of filling is-present, such feeler shall be prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis as it is moved frontward by the mass-of filling in the shuttle, but upon, substantial exhaustion of the filling that such rotative movement of the feeler shall be permitted and thereupon set into operation a train of mechanism to change the condition of the loom either by filling replenishment or loom stoppage.

Another feature otthe present invention consists in a'feeler motion having a rotas table or rocking feelc r and an arm assoeiatcd therewith, and whiehleelcr will be prevented from such rotative or rocking movement on the detecting beat of the lay by engagement with the filling until the latter has reached a desired degree of exhaustion, and thereupon may be turned or rocked to effect filling replenishment or loom stoppage, as the case may be. In carrying into effect this feature of the invention, the feeler is mounted for rotative or rocking movement together with the combinations of elements peculiar to the orgal'iization, will be subsequently defined by the claims.

In the drawings r- Figure 1 is a plan view showing sutlicient portions otthe loom frame, the lay and its associated parts, and the teeler to make clear the characteristics of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged .detail side view of the. rotative or rocking teeler with parts broken away, showing the filling-engaging part of the tecler in contact with a working supply ol filling on the bobbin orcarrier in the shuttle during the forward movement of the lay.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the t'ccler looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1

at is a side elevation of the ii'eeler and its associated parts similar to that of 2, but showing the action of the feeler on its frontward movement when the filling is substantially exhausted; and

Fig. 5 is a view in slightly modified term, of the feeler.

The presentinvention is especially adapted for application to an automatic loom wherein filling replenishment is made etljective to provide a fresh supply of filling when that in the active shuttle has become nearly or substantially exhausted; but it may, obviously, also be employed in connection'with some other train of mechanism. In the illustrated form of the invention. the loom frame may be and is of any usual or desired character and secured to the breast beam 1 is the transverse or change shaft 2. This transverse or change shaft '2 is common in filling replenishing looms, and may be connected as usual to suitable means for initiating filling replenishment when said shaft is rocked, all as will be readily understo'od 'by those skilled in the art. Secured to the transverse shaft 2 and extending upward therefrom, is the usual arm 3 having pivotally connected thereto the arm 4: which may for identification be termed a latch or actuating latch because by iii-outward movement thereoi the transverse or change shaft. 2 is rocked in opposition to thcusual spring means for holding the transverse shaft 2 and its connected parts in ino 'ierative position. Rear-ward of the actuating latch t. is the actuator 5 which. as usual. may be either the weft hammer or a part connected thereto.v and adapted to engage the end portion of the actuating latch '1 on frontward movement of the actuator to cause "iid actuating-2. latch to he moved frontward and thereby rock the transverse or change shaft L when the end of the latch is permitted to be positioned for engagement by the actuator.

Pivoted at 6 is the knocleotl lever 7. one end of which is adapted to bear against shipper S and to effect disengagement of said shipper from its holding notch as usual when said knock-oil lever T is turned upon its pivotal mounting (3 in a clockwise direction. viewing Fig. 1.

l ivotally mounted on the bracket 9 at it is the transmitter 11 by which the position of the actuating latch 1- relative to the actuator 5 may be controlled. In the illustrated form of the invention the transmitter 10 is normally under the influence of a lightspring l2 tending to depress the latch-engaging end of the transmitter and to pern'iit the end of such transmitter to be normally below the path of movement of the actuator the construction being such that should the transmitter be turned in a direction against the tension of the light springlZ, that is in a direction to lift its latch-engaging end, said latch will be positioned for engagemeut by the actuator 5 as the latter moves frontward. The transverse or change shaft. the latch 4 and actuator 5 may be substantially. the same as that disclosed in the patent to Wood and Northrop, No. 843,249, dated February 5, 1907. --The loom frame- 13. only part of which is indicated in lfi'g.'1,= sustains the usual lay 14 provided with the usual shuttle-boxes for the reception-of he 5 shuttle 15 in which is carried the usual lling carrier or bobbin 16 on which the filling 17 is wound. The bobbin 16 may be of any appropriate character and as shown it has the usual rings 18 for engagement with the holding jaws in the shuttle and the shuttle itself is as us'uah provided with an opening in its lower wall through which a bobbin may be ejected by the filling replenishing V mechanism when a new'supply of, fillin is transferred to the shuttle. The shuttle- )OX may be likewise provided with usual opening 19 in its front wall adapted to register with a corresponding opening 20 in the side wall of the shuttle, the construction being such that when the shuttle 15 is in the box opposite tl1GfGl1,-tll8 filling engaging portion of the feeler may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling as the lay makes its detecting beat. 95

Mounted upon a suitable bracket 21, Fig. is an appropriate stand 22 in which is rotatably mounted the fecler 23. The stand 92 may be of any appropriate character and as shown comprises a lower plate 24 and a top plate 25 appropriately secured in 00- operative relation by suitable means such as the screws 26. Fig. 1, and in order that the stand 92 may be adjusted relative to the supporting bracket '21, the flanged portion of 105 the base and cover plates .24 and 25 may beprovided with a. slot 27 through which extend the securing means such asthe bolts Fig. l, for holding the stand 22 and perforce. the feeler in appropriate position.

The stand is provided with suitable hearing portions 29 at its front and rear ends l'or the rotatable fceler 23, which is preirrahly formed circular in cross section, the construction being such that the feeler 5 may slide toward and from the front of the loom in such bearihg portions 29 and h rocked or rotated therein.

The feeler 23 is normally under the influence of means for projecting it toward the 120 rear of the loom, such means in the present instance, being shown as a spring 30 surrounding the fee'ler .23 within the stand '22 1 and a stop pin 31 is provided for limiting the rearward movement of the feeler under 125 the impulse of the spring, the construction being such that the feeler Q3 will'be normally held in rearward position by the spring 30.

As hercinbefore noted, an important fea- 13o ture of the present invention consists in a rotatable or rocking feeler, and in order to effect such rotative or rocking movement of the feeler, the spring 30 which normally projects the feeler rearward also tends nornially to turn or rock the feeler upon its longitudinal axis.v To this end one portion of the spring as at 32 is secured to the feeler stand '22, Fig. 2, and the other end 33 of said spring is connected to thefeeler, the construction being such that the spring 30 normally exerts a turning or rocking tendency to the feeler. times to vary the rocking or turning tendency of the spring 30 upon the feeler 23, and to this end one portion of the spring 30 at 33 is connected adjustably to the feeler. In .the present instance such ad justability of the end 33 of the spring is secured by means of a sleeve 34: to which one end 33 of the spring 30 is secured, the other end of said sleeve being provided with a series of notches 35 adapted to selectively engage a pin 36 extending from the feeler,

the construction being such that by forcing the sleeve 33 frontward or to the "left, Fig. 2-, the-notched end portion thereof may be disengaged from the pin 36 and turned either to increase or decrease the torsional action of the spring 30, whereupon, by re lease of the sleeve 34, the appropriate notch will at once be engaged by the pin 36 to hold the parts in adjusted position.

It may be desirable at The feeler 23 is provided with a fillingengaging portion 87, Figs. 2 and 4-,,Which is so formed and roughened or serrated that when such engaging portion is engaged by a working supply of filling in the shuttle as the lay makes its detecting beat and thereupon moves the feeler 23 frontward, th mass of filling in the shuttle will prevent rotative or rocking movement Let thefecler 23 about its longitudinal axis responi...- sue to the spring 30, Fig. F; but When the filling has become substantially exhausted,

as in Fig. 4-, the end portion 5 '7 of the li'eeler will no longer be held fromturning or rocking movement as the lay makes its detect ing heat so that on frontward movement of the feelen the spring 30 by its torsional action. will turn the i'eeler about its longitudinal axisand efi'ect filling replenishment as will presently appearl It is the purpose of the present invention to utilize the turning or rocking movement oi the ieeler which is permitted when the filling has become substantially exhausted, to initiate or'start in operation a train of mechanism to effect filling replenishment when the shuttle returns to the filling replenishing side of the loom. To this end filling replenishment. In the present in stance such means consists of an arm or finger 38 wh ch is secured to the feeler and which'by turning or rocking movement of the feeler as herembefore noted, is carried from its normal or full line position, Fig. 3,

to the dotted line position. In the illustrated form of the invention the arm or finger 38 is moved downwardly from its full to its dotted line position but it will be obvious of course that this will depend entirely upon the direction of torsional impulse of the feeler turning or rocking meanswhich, inthe present instance of the inventlon, is the spr ng 30 and which is illustrated as tending to turn the feeler in a direction to depress the arm or finger 38.

The transmitter 11 is provided with a part 39, Figs. 1 and ,3, adapted to be engaged and moved by the arm or finger 38 when the latter is moved by the turning or rocking movement of the feeler. In the present instance of the invention the part 39 is formed as a ledge or table as indicated in Fig. 1 positioned beneath the end of the arm or finger 38, the construction being such that when the feeler is turned as hereinbefore noted, the finger or arm 38 will be depressed and by engagement with the part 39 actuate the transmitter 11 to position the actuating latch c in the path of the actuator 5 which thereupon, by its forward movement, will rock the transverse or change shaft 2 and initiate filling replenishment.

In order that the feeler 23 may be turned l or rocked at the critical time as the lay makes its detecting beat when filling is substantially exhausted, and yet be held from such rocking movement when the feeler is in its rearward position, means are provided to permit such rocking movement only'when the feeler is moved frontward and to restore orrock the fceler to its origi nal position when the feeler is in its rearward position. In the present instance of the invention, the stand 23 is provided with the incline or cam portion 4:0, Figs. 2 and 4, leading from a. position or horizontal edge 41 anthadaited to be en a 'ed by the arm 88 will rest upon the edge 11 of the stand- 22 and hold the t'eeler from turning or rocking movement responsive to its actuating means: or spring 30; but when the feeler is moved frontward on the detecting beat of the lay, the finger or arm .38 will move withv it and if a Working supply oi. filling is present-in the shuttle as indicated in Fig, 2, the engaging portion 37 of the teeler will maintain the feeler from turning or rocking movement responsive to the s 'iring 30, as the feeler moves to its front position; but should the filling have become substantially exhausted, as indicated in Fig. 4, the feeder will no longer be held from turning or rocking movement and the finger or arm 38 will move down the incline or cam portion l0 as the feeler moves front- Ward, thereby actuating the transmitter and initiating filling replenishment. When, on

backward movement of the lay, the fceler able variation of the action of the spying 30.-

lVhile the preferred form of the inven tion is shown as having the filling-engaging portion of the feeler formed generally circular in character, it is to be understood that such endportion of the focler may be of any appropriate form which, by engagement with a Working mass of filling, will prevent rotative rnovement of the feeler about its longitudinal axis under the demands of its turning or rocking spring,and yet will permit such rotative or rocking movement when the mass of filling has been depleted to substantial exhaustion.

In Fig. 5 is represented a slightly-modified form of the feeler wherein the end portion of the feeler is turned from axial alinement with the main portion thereof, as at 42, and

in this figure also, the feeling end portion of the fecler at 43 is flattened, but in this modification, as in the preferred form of the invention, the turning of rocking movement of the fceler at the critical moment on the detecting heat is the agency whereby filling replenishment or other change in the loom condition is made effective,. as described for the preferred form of the invention.

What is claimed is 1, In a feoler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler having a single filling engaging portion, a torsional spring normallv action to rotate the t'eeler and revented from effecting such rotation on a de- ,tecting beat by the filling in the shuttle until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for preventing rotative movement of the foeler when not engaged by the filling or carrier in the shuttle, and means for initiating reilenishmont when the torsional action of the spring eliects rotative movement of the feeler.

2. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler, a spring normally acting to rotate the feeler, a finger connected to thefeeler, a fixed cam having a. portion for engaging the finger when the feeler is in rear position to prevent rotation of the feelerunder t-he normal action of said spring, and a fixedinclined portion to permit the spring to rotate the 'feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on at detecting beat.

In a feoler motion for looms. the c0mbination of a rotatable ieeler, a finger connected to the feeler, a fixed stop on Which the finger normally rests when the feeler is in rear position to prevent rotation of the ieeler, and. a spring normally acting to rotate the feeler when the finger is removed from the stop on a detecting beat and the filling is substantially exhausted.

l. In a feeler motion for looms, the comhination of a feeler having a filling engaging portion, a finger extending from the S feeler, a fixed stop for said finger when the feeler is in rear position, and a spring normally acting torsionally upon the feeler and rotating the same when the finger is removed from the stop on a. detecting beat and the filling is substantially exhausted.-

In a feeler motion for looms, a feeler, a feeler stand having a stop, a finger connected to the feeler and normally rest-- ing on the stop when the feeler is in rear position, and a spring forrotating the feeler when the finger is removed from the stop by the frontward movement of the lay'and the filling is substantially exhaust-ed.

6.1m a feeler motion for looms, the combination of'a feeler stand having a fixed 1nclined portion, a fceler mounted for rotative movement in the stand, a spring acting directly on the feeler to turn it about its longitudinal axis, a finger extending from the feeler and resting upon the feeler stand at the top of the inclined portion when the feeler is in rear position and adapted to teelei-"is in rear position and adapted to move along the fixed inclined portion of the stand in response to the spring when the color is moved fronhvard on a detecting beat and the filling is substantially -exhausted, and means rendered effective by the movement ofthe finger over the fixed inclined portion of the stand to initiate filling replenishment.

8. In afeeler motion for looms, the combination of a fe'eler to feelfor the filling in the shuttle as the lay beats up, a torsional spring having one end fixed and the other secured to the feeler, said spring normally tending to rock the feeler about its longitudinal axis and prevented from effectino such rocking movement by engagement 0 the feeler with the Wound mass of filling until the filling is substantially exhausted and thereupon effecting such rocking movement, and means rendered effective by such rocking movement of the feeler for replenishing the filling.

9. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle as the lay beats up, a spring tending to rock the feeler about its longitudinal axis and prevented from effecting such rocking movement by engagement of the feeler with the Wound mass of filling until the filling is substantially exhausted and thereupon effecting such rocking movement, means for adjusting the rocking tendency of the spring, and means rendered effective by such'rocking movement of the feeler for replenishing the filling.

I 10. In a feeler motion for looms, a feeler to feel for the filling in the. shuttle and be moved frontward by the Wound mass of filling as the lay beats up, means normally tending to rock the feeler about its longitudinal axis as it is moved frontward and prevented from effecting such rocking movement by engagement of the feeler with he filling until substantial exhaustion, and means independent of the normally acting nieansfor preventing rocking movement of .the feeler when the feeler is in its rearward 7 position'and becoming ineffective when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat, v,

11. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle as the lay heats up, a torsional' spring acting upon the feeler and tending to rotate or rock the feeler about its longtudinal axis and prevented from effecting such rotating or rocking movement by "ei'1- gagement of the feeler ivith the Wound mass] of filling until tle filling is substantially exhausted and thereupon effecting such rotating or rocking movement, means for Ya: i'ying the torsional action of the spring, and means rendered effective by such rotating or rocking movement of-the feeler for replenishing. the filling. V

12. A feeler motion for looms, comprising in combination, a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of and rotative movement about its axis and held fromsuch rotative movement by the mass of filling on the detecting beat-up of the lay until substantial exhaustion of the filling, an arm connected to the feeler, and means for engaging said arm when the feeler is in rear position to prevent rotative movement of the feeler, said arm being freed from said means as the lay beats up to permit the feeler to be rotated or rocked on its longitudinal axis provided the filling is substantially exhausted.

13. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler mounted for longitudinal and rotative or rocking movemcnt and held from such rotative or rocking movement on a detecting beat by the filling in the shuttle when a working supply of fill ing is present, an arm connected to-the feeler, means for engaging said,ar'n 1 when the feeler is in rear position to prevent r0 tative movement of'the feeler, said arm being 7 hausted to initiate filling replenishment:

14. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, .a feele'rmnunted' for longitudinal and rota'tive movements and held from such rotatiys movement ondetecting beat of the 'lay' by the filling in the;

shuttle when a Working supply is -present, anarm connected to the feeler,,.;a support on Which .said arm rests when thefeeler is' in rear position to prevent rotative mje'rvement of the feeler and from Which "it is freed by frontivard movement of the feelerto permit rotative movement of thefeeler provided the filling is s ubstantially exhausted on a detecting beat, said support having an inclined portion for resetting the feeler as the latter-moves to rearward position after -a detection of substantial exhaustion of filling. and n :eans cofiperating with said arm for initiating replen shment of filllng.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

TI 1 OMAS FERGUSON.

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